Method and apparatus for making shoe soles



Feb. 2, 1932. w. J. DE wrr-r ET AL 1,843,753

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Filed Nov. 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Feb. 2,, 1932; w. J. DE WITT ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Fil ed Nov. .24, 1930 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I? 1036 7230715 Willa/@277; J e We? fiaj z'eiefi flrzdiqew 170 rarwagl W 5 M flfif/g.

Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. DE WITT, ROY E. PIERCE, AND ANDREW HOMMEL, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS 'IO DUN DEER SANDALS, INCL, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Application filed November 24, 1930. Serial No. 497,690.

This invention pertains to the manufacture of shoes, and more particularly relates to an improved apparatus and a method of making soles for sandals, moccasins, and

other types of footwear.

It is the object of this invention to provide a blanking die which will stam out or blank a shoe sole, slit and perforate t e edge thereof, simultaneously and in one operation,

thereby to provide a sole of unique and novel structure to which an upper may be easily and securely attached.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of making a sole which is 1 simple and eflicient, which embodies a minimum number of steps, and which will provide a sole adapted to be used in making various types of footwear.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent as the attributes of the construction and operation of the die, and in the practice of this method which is described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention 3V way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blanking die particularly adapted for making a type of sole used in sandals, moccasins, and other 39 similar types of footwear;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

a section on the line 3-3 of a section on the. line 55 of a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7' is a plan view of a sole blanked by the die shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a side view of a slitting apparatus for producing a peripheral incision on the edge of the'sole;

Fig. 9 is a side View of an apparatus for trimming the lower edge of the sole;

Fig. 10 is a side view of a; forming apparatus for turning up the upper edge of the 59 sole; and

a section on the line 4-4 of or other material. The portion of the bed,

plate enclosed by the flange 2 is provided with a plurality of cylindrical recesses 3 for the reception ofthe springs 16, the recesses being disposed around the enclosed portion adjacent to the flange and in spaced relation to each other. The enclosed portion is further provided with cylindrical recesses 4 for the reception of the dowels 8, threaded apertures 5 for the reception of the machine screws 9, and cylindrical openings 6 for the reception of the posts of the stripper plate. The flange 2 is provided with .a plurality of inwardly directed, threaded openings for the reception of the set screws 7.

The base plate 10 is of a contour or shape similar to but smaller than that defined by the flange 2 and is provided with recesses, apertures, and openings corresponding with those of the bed plate and registering therewith when in assembled relation. The base plate 10 is disposed on the portion of the bed plate enclosed by the flan e and with the inner edge of the flange 2 efines a peripheral recess 11. The base plate is maintained accurately in position by the dowels 8 and is anchored or secured to the bed plate by the machine screws 9.

Disposed around the ed e of the base plate are a plurality of slitting knives 12 and slotting knives 13. The slotting knives 13 are preferably used only at the salient ortions of the edge, for example, at the en scorresponding to the toe and heel portions of the sole, whereas the slitting knives 12 are used at the portions of the edge having less curvature. This construction is desirable although it would be perfectly possible to use one type or the other rather than both. Each of the knives is disposed in spaced relation to each other with its cutting edge extending from the blade of a shearing knife 14 mounted at the edge of the base plate inwardly substantially in alignment with the radius of a circle whose circumference would coincide substantially with the curvature of the edge of the base plate at the particular portion thereof where the knife is disposed.

Between each two adjacent knives are one or more perforators spaced a fixed distance from the edge of the base plate. In the preferred construction shown in Fig. 1 there are, between each two knives, a pair of perforators each being spaced from the other of the pair of the same distance. The cutting edges of both the knives 12 and 13 and the perforators 15 are in the same horizontal plane to produce the same depth of cut.

The shearing knife 14 comprises a pliable blade having a length not exceeding the perimeter of the base plate and is mounted in the recess 11 and secured in firm engagement with the edge of the base plate by the set screws 7. In this particular embodiment the cutting edge of the knife 14 extends upwardly beyond the cutting edges of the knives 12 and 13 and the perforators 15.

superposed on and supported by the coil springs 16 in the recesses 3 is a stripper plate 17 having a shape or contour conforming to that of the base plate 10, but slightly undersized relative thereto to provide a clearance between its edge and the edge of the knife 14. Along the ed e of the stripper plate is a plurality of nic s or recesses registering with the knives 12 and 13, and of suflicient size to permit the knives to project therethrough with a comfortable clearance, and adjacent to the edge of the stripper plate is a plurality of apertures through which the perforators 15 may pass with a comfortable clearance, so that the free travel, of the stripper plate is not affected thereby.

The stripper plate is provided with guid ing posts 20 secured at its under surface and which project downwardly therefrom through the cylindrical openings of the base plate into the opening 6 of the bed plate. The lower end of each guiding post carries an abutment washer 21 secured thereto by the machine screws 22. The abutment washers 21 striking the base plate 10 limit the upward movement of the stripper plate 17, while the downward movement of the same is determined by the compressibility of the springs 16, so that the depth of cut of the knives is limited. The stripper plate 17 is constantly urged upwardly by the springs 16 and is normally maintained with its upper surface projecting beyond the cutting edge of the shearing knife 14, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, thus affording a protection to the knives 12, 13 and 14, as well as providing a protection to the hands of the operator while handling or using the same. The springs 16 further serve to eject the sole after the same has been blanked, and incidentally absorbs the shock of the blanking operation by offering a yielding surface.

In this particular embodiment the cutting edge of the shearing knife 14 projects beyond the cutting edges of the knives 12 and 13 and the perforators 15 a distance approximately equal to half the thickness of the sole to be cut, thus limiting the depth of the perforations, slits and slots to approximately half the thickness of the sole to be cut, whereas the depth of the cut of the shearing blade 14 is suflicient to penetrate the entire thickness of the sole. The utility and novelty of this particular feature will be hereinafter dealt with more fully.

It is evident, however, that this blanking die stamps out a sole and provides slits, slots and perforations along the edge simultaneously and in a single operation, thus dispensing with several independent steps. This type of die can be used in conjunction with practically all types of pressers and punches in the same manner as any conventional dinking die.

In practicing the method of making soles in accordance with this invention, a sole is first blanked out by the use of the die above described. This operation will hereinafter be referred to as the blanking operation. The sole 25 (shown in Fig. 7) is then split on the line running completely around its edge midway between the upper and lower faces of the sole thereby providing a peripheral incision to a depth at least as great as the dis tance from the edge of the sole to the inner end of the slits and slots. The incision thus provides an upper lip and a lower lip. As the knives 12 and 13 and the perforators 15 penetrate the sole to but half its thickness this last operation will permit the removal of the pieces cut from the upper edge to provide a perforated, slitted, and slotted upper lip.

A simple and efficient machine for performing this operation is shown in Fig. 8, and comprises a disk cutter or blade 31 adjustably mounted on a shaft 32 which projects through the working bench 33. The

axis of rotation of theshaft is perpendicular to the plane of the bench 33 and the plane of the cut is parallel to that of the bench and in a predetermined spaced relation therefrom in order to provide a peripheral incision at the proper portion of the edge. The guard or shield 34 is provided with an opening through which the end of the shaft 32 projects and is secured at one end to the bench 33 with its opposite end projecting beyond the cutting edge of the blade 31, thereby providing a protection to the operator and also aiding in holding the sole 25 in position during the operation.

The depth of the incision is limited by collars 36 carried by the shaft 32, and by using collars of different diameters various depths of cuts can be had. By means of the 34 and the sole 25 can be varied or adjusted as convenience may require.

The next step comprises trimming the lower edge or lip of the sole to the proper d1- mension or shape. This step may be accomplished by any well known apparatus, but it has been found desirable to use the type shown in Fig. 9, which comprises a milling cutter 41 adjustably mounted on a vertical shaft 42, the plane of rotation of the cutter 41 being parallel to that of the work bench 43 and spaced therefrom a distance equal to the thickness of the upper lip of the sole. Preferably an adjustable guide plate 44 is disposed subjacent to the cutter 41 to limit the depth of the cut of the milling cutter, thereby insuring a uniform and even reduction of the edge to the proper size.

The final step comprises turning up the slitted, slotted and perforated upper lip in order to provide the well-defined vertical flange 26 shown in Fig. 11, to which an upper may be firmly secured. This step is preferably accomplished by the apparatus shown in F1g. 10 which comprises a forming machine havin a roller 51 provided with a flange 52, an mounted on the driving shaft 53. The roller 54 mounted on the arm 56 is provided with a flange 55 which frictionally engages the flange 52 of'roller 51 during the operation of the machine, and is rotated thereby. The arm 56 is pivotally secured to the support 57 and its movement is controlled by a lever associated with the bar 58 and actuated by the operator of the machine. A guard 59 similar to that used in connection with the cutter 41, and similarly disposed in relation to the roller 51 limits the movement of the sole toward the axis of rotation of the shaft 53 and thereby insures an even and uniform action of the machine in turning up the lip.

v The finished sole thus produced is shown in Fig. 11, and is particularly adapted for p use in the manufacture of footwear of the type shown and described in Desi n Patent No. 80,039, granted to,Edwa-rd F. athews, December 3, 1929.

While we have shown and described a desirable embodiment of this invent-ion, we wish it to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular blanking die and other apparatus shown, or to the precise manner of practicin this method, but that various changes an modifications can be made in the method, the blanking die and other apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of making soles for shoes and.

other types of footwear which comprises the following steps, stamping out a sole from a piece of stock, slitting and perforating one surface thereof adjacent the edge to a depth approximately equal to half the thlckness of the sole, said steps being performed simultaneously and in one operation.

2. A method of making soles for shoes and other types of footwear which comprises the following steps, stamping out a sole from a piece of stock, slitting and perforating one surface thereof adjacent the edge to a depth less than the thickness of the sole, said steps being performed simultaneously and in one operatlon.

3. A method of making soles for shoes which comprises the following steps, star'nping out a sole, slotting the upper surface thereof adjacent the salient portions of the edge, slitting the remainder of said surface ad acent to the edge of said sole, and perforating said surface adjacent the edge and intermeperforations penetrating the sole to a depth approximately equal-to half the thickness of the sole, all of said steps being performed simultaneously.

5. A method of making soles for shoes which comprises the following steps, stamping out a sole, slotting the upper surface *thereof adjacent the salient portions of the edge, slitting the remainder of said surface adjacent to the edge of said sole, and perforating said surface adjacent the edge and intermediate slits and slots, the depth of the slits, slots, and erforations being less than the thickness of t e sole, all of said steps being erformed simultaneously. 6. A method of making soles for shoes and other types of footwear which comprises the following steps: iirst, blanking a piece of stock to provide a sole having slits and perforations adjacent to the edge thereof; second, splitting the sole along the edge to provide a slitted and perforated upper lip, and a lower lip; third, trimming the edge of the %ower lip; and finally turning up the upper 1p. I

7. A method of making soles for shoes and other types of footwear comprising the following steps: first, blanking a piece of stock lowing steps: first, blanking a piece of stock to provide a sole having slits, slots, and perforations on its upper surface adjacent to the edge of the sole, the slots being provided at the salient portions of the edge, and the perforations intermediate said slits and slots, said slits, slots, and perforations penetrating the sole approximately half the thickness of the sole; second, splitting the sole around the edge to provide a perforated upper hp and a lower lip; third, trimming the edge of the lower lip; and finally turning up the upper lip.

9. A method of making soles for shoes and other types of footwear comprising the following steps: first, blanking a piece of stock to provide a sole having slits and slots on its upper surface adjacent to the edge of the sole, the slots being provided at the salient portions of the edge, and perforations intermedi ate said slits and slots, said slits, slots, and perforations penetrating the sole to a depth less than the thickness of the sole; second, splitting the sole around the edge to provide a perforated upper lip and a lower lip; third, trimming the edge of the lower lip; and finally turning up the upper lip.

10; A method of making soles for shoes and other types of footwear comprising the following steps: first, blanking a piece of stock to provide a sole having slits and slots on its upper surface adjacent to the edge of the sole, the slots being provided at the salient portions of the edge, and perforations intermediate said slits and slots, said slits, slots and perforations penetrating the sole to a depth less than the thickness of the sole; second, splitting the sole around the edge in a plane substantially parallel to the surface of the sole to provide a perforated upper lip and a lower lip; third, trimming the edge of the lower lip; and finally turning up the upper lip.

11. A method of making soles for shoes and other types of footwear comprising the following steps: first, blanking a piece of stock to provide a sole having slits and slots on its upper surface adjacent to the edge of the sole, the slots being provided at the salient portions of the edge, and perforations intermediate said slits and slots; second, slitting the sole around the edge to a depth at least as great as the distance from the edge of the sole to the inner end of the slots and slits to provide a perforated upper lip and a lower lip; third, trimming the edge of the lower lip; and finally turning up the upper lip.

12. A die of the class described comprising a cutting blade defining approximately the shape of the sole to be cut, slotting and slitting knives disposed in spaced relation to each other and adjacent to the inner edge of the cutting blade, said slotting knives being disposed at the salient portions of the edge, and at least one perforator disposed between each of the said knives, the cutting edges of the knives and perforators being in the same plane and subjacent to the plane defined b the cutting blade. A

13. The method of making soles for shoes and other types of footwear which comprises stamping out a sole from a piece of stock, slitting and slotting one surface thereof adjacent to the edge to a depth less than the thickness of the sole, said slots being disposed at the salient portions of the edge, splitting the sole around the edge at a point corresponding to the depth of said slits and slots to provide an upper lip and a lower lip, and turning up said upper lip to provide an upturned flange having a shape conforming to that of the lower lip.

14. A die of the class described comprising a cutting blade defining the shape of the sole to be cut, cutting means disposed in spaced relation to each other adjacent to the inner edge of said cutting blade and running radially of the curvature of said solo at their respective locations, said cutting means having their cutting edges disposed in the same plane and subjacent to the plane defined by said cutting blade.

15. A die of the class described comprising a cutting blade defining the shape of the sole to be cut, slotting and slitting knives disposed in spaced relation to each other adjacent to the inner edge of the cutting blade, said slotting knives being disposed at the salient portions of the edge of said'sole, the cutting edges of said slotting and slitting knives being in the same plane and subjacent to the plane defined by the cutting blade.

16. A die of the class described comprising a cutting blade defining the shape of the I sole to be cut, cutting means disposed in spaced relation to each other adjacent to the inner edge of said cutting blade and running radially of the curvature of said sole at their respective locations, perforators disposed intermediate said cutting means and adjacent to the edge of said sole, said cutting means and perforators having their cutting edges disposed in the same plane and subjacent to the plane defined by said cutting blade.

Signed by us at Auburn, New York, this 20th day of November, 1930.

WILLIAM J. DE WITT. ROY E. PIERCE. ANDREW HOMMEL. 

